The incidence of small for gestational age neonates in singleton IVF pregnancies

Abstract

Introduction

Various factors related to an “in vitro” fertilization (IVF) procedure may influence the rate of small for gestational age (SGA) newborns in such pregnancies.

Aim

The aim of the study was to determine neonatal SGA incidence in singleton IVF pregnancies compared to spontaneous ones.

Materials and methods

We conducted both a prospective and a retrospective study within the period of January 2013–December 2017, which included 336 patients with a singleton IVF pregnancy at the time of delivery – the study group (SG), and 493 women with a spontaneous conception – the control group (CG).

Results

Neonatal SGA rate was significantly higher in the SG as compared to the CG, p < .05, as well as in case of multiple embryotransfer (ET), vanishing twin syndrome (VTS), fresh ET against frozen embryotransfer (FET), female infertility factor.

Conclusion

Singleton pregnancies after an IVF technique show a higher neonatal SGA rate compared to spontaneous ones.

Keywords:

• Small for gestational age newborn
• “in vitro” fertilization embryotransfer
• vanishing twin syndrome

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).